Going to Mondstadt...That idea had never once crossed Furina's mind.
Ever since being known as "Furina" awakened, nearly all her time had been spent traveling back and forth between just two places: the Opera Epiclese and Palais Mermonia.
The farthest she had ever ventured was the outskirts of Fontaine, where, at least, she could escape human interaction, avoid the weight of false gazes, and find a sliver of breathing room beyond her own quarters. There, she could indulge in her whims alongside her blubberbeast friends, who cared nothing for masks or performances.
Of course, the false gazes were something she had long anticipated. The moment she donned her mask, people would see only the mask, never the truth beneath.
Naturally, this meant she never received genuine attention either. People saw the Hydro Archon, not Furina.
And should someone ever see the real her before the Final Judgment arrived, her first reaction probably wouldn't be joy; it would be fear.
Because that would mean she had ruined everything, and no one could be saved.
For all these reasons, Furina's understanding of the six other nations came almost entirely from books in the Fontaine Library or from the accounts of adventurers and foreign merchants visiting her in court.
So, when Richard invited her to Mondstadt, although she didn't give an outright answer, deep down, she had already rejected the idea.
And yet…If she had rejected it, why couldn't her mind stop drifting back to what she'd read about Mondstadt? Its architecture, flowers, wildlife, natural scenery…
All those thoughts began to swirl and converge into one overpowering desire she could hardly contain:
'How wonderful it would be if I could go to Mondstadt. Even just for a few days..'
She'd never had this kind of urge before. Even when others invited her to visit different nations, she would only smile and dismiss it.
So why was this time different?
Furina tried several times to refuse Richard's invitation, but every time she opened her mouth, her voice caught in her throat, like her vocal cords had frozen.
"Furina?" Richard noticed something off.
She looked like a cat eyeing a piece of jerky, desperate for it, but scared it might be poisoned. Torn between desire and hesitation.
It was just a simple trip to Mondstadt. A few days at most. It's not like she wouldn't come back.
Even someone as busy as Chief Justice Neuvillette could spare time for something like this, surely?
Let alone Furina, who, truthfully, didn't have that much on her plate, and could still find time to attend trials at the opera house or perform in shows.
As Richard thought more about it, he suddenly realized something shocking:
Furina had never once set foot outside Fontaine since she'd taken office five hundred years ago.
In all that time, her movements had been confined entirely within Fontaine's borders.
If you were to chart her path on a map, the routes would fill every inch of Fontaine, but not once had she drawn a line that crossed its boundary.
Not that this was unheard of. Richard thought of Ei, someone he knew well. After returning from Khaenri'ah 500 years ago, she, too, had never left Inazuma.
But Ei's reasons were different, partly the trauma of that disaster, and partly her stoic, solitary personality. Furina, on the other hand… was something else entirely.
After spending time with her, Richard knew full well just how unpredictable, flamboyant, and whimsical she could be.
And yet, this goddess who acts on a whim had never left Fontaine.
'Why? Was she not interested?'
Richard remembered how many questions she asked about Mondstadt. That alone answered it:
'If she truly wasn't interested, why would she ask so much?'
And so, another question arose:
'If Furina did want to go… what was stopping her? Or rather, what was she afraid of?'
Watching her strange behavior, Richard felt more and more intrigued.
"Sorry. Let's talk about this later," Furina finally said. "Give me some time to think it over… After all, for the Hydro Archon to visit another country is a big deal; it requires serious thought. Yes. Careful consideration."
Hearing Richard call her name had thrown her even more off balance, so she decided to delay the matter.
Maybe once she got back to her room and calmed down, she could say what was really on her mind.
She left work early that day, clearly distracted, nearly fleeing the office.
She was so lost in thought that she didn't even notice Clorinde entering, nor did she greet her as she passed.
"So… he didn't fall for it?" That was the only explanation Clorinde could think of.
Richard turned and gave her a look that said, 'You knew she was trying to dupe me and didn't say a thing? Whose side are you on?'
"I'm Lady Furina's private secretary," Clorinde reminded him.
"Yes, of course," Richard smiled. "And yet I'm the one who writes your annual work evaluation, Secretary Clorinde."
Clorinde's red lips parted as she suddenly remembered whose team she was actually on.
This graceful and composed woman suddenly felt a twinge of regret. She probably shouldn't have asked if Richard had taken the bait.
Whether he had or not, she was likely in trouble now.
But since things had gone this far, she at least wanted to know if Furina's plan worked or not. Otherwise, it would all feel like a waste.
"So... did she succeed?" She'd seen Furina run off clearly troubled, so maybe not only had her plan failed, but Richard had turned the tables on her?
Richard ignored the question entirely and instead reflected on Furina's strange behavior.
"Maybe… she got upset because I said I'm taking time off to go to Mondstadt?"
"Upset? Furina? Over that?" Clorinde didn't buy it. Not unless Richard was never planning to return.
"Well… I also invited her to come with me to Mondstadt."
"??" Clorinde still didn't get what the issue was. If she wanted to go, she could. If not, just say no. What's the big deal?
"Anyway, Secretary Clorinde," Richard said, changing the subject."I have a little favor to ask…"
He paused, then added with a smile:
"Of course, you can refuse. But if you do, I might end up in a very bad mood… and you wouldn't want me to be in a bad mood while I'm writing your annual report, right?"
Clorinde: 'So in the end…Did Richard fall for it or not?'